A case for Finland’s quantum sovereignty

Picture a future where quantum technologies are a major economic engine across sectors and industries. 

Where unrealized research and development capabilities are made possible utilizing quantum computers. Where university students have early, hands-on access to quantum sensing equipment for precision measurements at unprecedented scales. Where quantum encryption technology underpins secure data exchange for the quantum information age. 

This future may be closer to reality than one would expect.

Early commitment to curiosity-driven research

Finland has been walking the walk for decades, with early investment in quantum technology research and innovation development dating back to the 1960s. Critically, this was curiosity-driven research – a theme that must remain consistent as the field develops. 

This type of early and committed investment has clearly paid dividends, and Olli V. Lounasmaa’s Low-Temperature Laboratory serves as a prime example. 

“What started off as a simple research question, ‘What is the coldest temperature we can possibly achieve,’ resulted in the establishment of one of the earliest ultra-low temperature research laboratories in the world,” says Jukka Pekola, distinguished professor of physics at Aalto University and director of InstituteQ, Finland’s National Quantum Institute.

Now, Finland is a global leader in superconducting quantum technologies that rely on the same ultra-cold environments Lounasmaa began developing decades ago. Thus, an entirely new industry was born out of Otaniemi labs. The Low Temperature Lab and adjoining facilities in Otaniemi later blossomed into OtaNano, Finland's national research infrastructure for nano-, micro and quantum technologies. Easy access to state-of-the-art OtaNano facilities, not just for researchers but also for early-stage and established companies, is a unique enabler of both curiosity-driven research and product innovation. 

And the Finnish government continues to support quantum research endeavors with substantial investments. Recent key projects include the Centre of Exellence in Quantum Materials (coordinated by the University of Jyväskylä), as well as the Finnish Quantum Flagship (coordinated by Aalto University). In addition, Aalto University coordinates the Quantum Doctoral Pilot Programme (QDOC), a three-year initiative funded by the Finnish Ministry for Education and Culture.

“QDOC is training the next line of Finnish quantum experts, with roughly 90 students conducting their research at universities throughout the country. This pilot project has attracted international talent from around the world, and it is these types of talent attraction schemes that will aid in Finland maintaining its role as a leader in the field,” says Adam Foster, Professor of Physics at Aalto University and Director of QDOC.

From lab to market

So what are the tangible, economic results of Finland’s early commitment to fundamental research?

Take Bluefors, for example. They are the global market leader for cryogenic technologies used in quantum technology research and development. What began as one team’s research question has now resulted in a company with €217 million in revenue in 2025. In fact, Bluefors’ original prototype is still located in the very same Low-Temperature Laboratory that was founded over 60 years ago.

But Bluefors is not the only Aalto University quantum spinout making headlines. IQM Quantum Computers delivers superconducting quantum computers throughout the world, and it stands as the first European quantum computing company listed on the US Stock Exchange.

Importantly, Bluefors and IQM are both developing technology inside of Finland. This includes multiple deployed computers using their components, including Aalto University’s 20-qubit computer.

This is what present-day value chain ownership looks like: early commitment to fundamental research leads to novel discoveries with commercial potential, resulting in the new startups. Some of these startups develop into global leaders, which in turn result in new spinouts all the while. 

“The Finnish Quantum Flagship has spun our three new companies in the first two years of its operations: A-Gate Sensors and Arctic Instruments in the hardware domain, and QMill in the software domain. The flagship also focuses on quantum materials research, ecosystem development and research support via funding mechanisms. We started this project only in 2024, but we are already witnessing great success,” says Peter Liljeroth, Professor of Physics at Aalto University and Director of the Finnish Quantum Flagship.

Developing Finland’s quantum value chain

Fortunately, the path forward is not a blind endeavor but is guided by the jointly developed National Quantum Strategy 2025-2035 and the subsequent Quantum Technology Roadmap. These documents paint a lofty albeit attainable picture of Finland’s future as a technologically sovereign and leading state in quantum science and technology.

The national strategy has set a 2035 target of €3 billion turnover in the quantum sector, €400 million in private investments and 10,000 jobs in industry. Crucially, these efforts involve players from all corners of the arena: from research organizations and ministries of government to higher education institutions and companies.

“This Finnish quantum strategy is unique in that it involved quantum industrial players from the beginning. Their input is documented throughout the strategy and the related technology roadmap. This early integration of companies into the national strategy gives Finland a competitive advantage in turning private innovation into public success,” says Liljeroth, who was a member of the working group that developed the strategy.

InstituteQ plays an increasingly important role in the race to identify, recruit and onboard as many potential end-user companies as possible. Jointly with Business Finland the broader Finnish quantum ecosystem, the national quantum strategy has tasked InstituteQ with facilitating this work to achieve 50 end-user companies actively utilizing quantum technologies by 2030.

Developed by InstituteQ in response to the publication of the national strategy, the National Quantum Technology Roadmap 2025-2035 takes aim at the near-term ramp-up of three primary technology pathways: quantum computation, quantum sensing and quantum communication.

But to achieve true ownership of the entire quantum value chain, Finland also needs early adopters of quantum technologies – so-called end-users. The quantum technology roadmap identifies sectors like healthcare and pharmaceuticals, defense, finance, metrology and mining as likely early beneficiaries of quantum technologies.

Aalto University is one of three founding members of InstituteQ, which now comprises six other universities and two research and technology organizations: CSC – IT Center for Science, Tampere University, The University of Eastern Finland, The University of Helsinki, The University of Jyväskylä, The University of Oulu, The University of Turku, and VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland.

InstituteQ is Finland’s national quantum institute, bringing together world-class research, industry, and government to accelerate the development of quantum science and technology. Driven by the work of its three core pillars – ResQ (Research), InnoQ (Business & Innovation), and EduQ (Education) – InstituteQ aims to turn long-term scientific excellence into real-world impact, positioning Finland as a leading and globally connected hub for quantum innovation.

In addition, InstituteQ houses the Finnish Quantum Flagship, the largest and most ambitious national research coalition of its kind in the nation, as well as the Quantum Doctoral Pilot Programme (QDOC), which is successfully attracting, training and retaining the next line of quantum experts in Finland. Together, these efforts underscore InstituteQ’s primary mission: to raise the readiness of Finnish society for the disruptive potential and significant strategic advancements quantum technologies will have for society and the economy at large.